Cesc Fàbregas

[Flavia]

Ketoth suffers from a unique condition, called blind-cescy-love. Don't mind him that much. He'll say insane things, like he'd choose Cesc over Messi if he could.

 

[Ketoth]

^ So would then why are you not making an argument for Lampard been the best?

If penalties, corners and free kicks were taken into consideration I'm sure his stats wouldn't be so high.
Besides, I've compared some players who are widely considered among the best 5 midfielders in the world. Lampard's not among them.

But regardless, as it stands Lampard has stats of 270 minutes per goal and 390 minutes per assist. His assists are the worst of the bunch (it's still pretty high, mind), and he's taken a lot of penalties.

 

[Kerrybai]

The difference between Iniesta and Fabregas has nothing to do with stats. What defines a great player is how they perform when the 'chips are down'. Players like Iniesta have stepped up when it matters most. Fabregas is great but has never transformed big games to the same degree that Iniesta has, the same can be said about Ozil.

 

[Flavia]

Fabregas is great but has never transformed big games to the same degree that Iniesta has, the same can be said about Ozil.

Cesc did assist Iniesta on the wc final, though. But he still has a long way to reach Iniesta, if he does it one day.

 

[Ketoth]

The difference between Iniesta and Fabregas has nothing to do with stats. What defines a great player is how they perform when the 'chips are down'. Players like Iniesta have stepped up when it matters most. Fabregas is great but has never transformed big games to the same degree that Iniesta has, the same can be said about Ozil.

I rate Iniesta highly, about the same (if not better) than Zidane. But I do believe that Cesc has the potential to surpass both. Iniesta is at his peak whilst Cesc is 25. Cesc's got a lot more to give, his stats considering his age is remarkable and I'm sure he'll begin to transform big games to the same degree that Iniesta has, given time.

 

[Dan1983]

Ketoth suffers from a unique condition, called blind-cescy-love. Don't mind him that much. He'll say insane things, like he'd choose Cesc over Messi if he could.

Gunners still pine over Cesc haha.

 

[Ode to Django]

This is a prime example of why stats mean fuck all

 

[beautifulgame]

Silly discussion. Can't believe people are getting pulled into it yet again, especially considering this debate has been settled long ago with on-field displays by the players involved. Further, Cesc's inability to displace either Iniesta or Xavi on neither club or national level with few if any people (disregarding the deluded) arguing for anything different.

 

[Kerrybai]

I rate Iniesta highly, about the same (if not better) than Zidane. But I do believe that Cesc has the potential to surpass both. Iniesta is at his peak whilst Cesc is 25. Cesc's got a lot more to give, his stats considering his age is remarkable and I'm sure he'll begin to transform big games to the same degree that Iniesta has, given time.

I appreciate your opinion, but I don't think stats mean a whole lot. For forwards stats can say a lot about a player but not midfielders. I'm sure as an Arsenal fan you remember the battles between Roy Keane and Viera. Keane had 51 goals in around 480 appearances, Viera had maybe 30ish in 400? Neither player was a great goalscorer but would still be regarded by both sets of fans as 2 of the best midfielders of their generation, all because they could dominate and control games. Statistics dont tell the full story.

 

[DavidVillano1]

Cesc will never come close to Iniesta or Zidane.

Stats are a horrible way to view things, an example is Cesc has upped his stats in two games this season against two of the poorest teams in the league which make his return over the season look better than what it actually is.

Not even sure those statistics are correct either, according to that site Cesc has 13 assists in the league this year, whilst soccernet says 10.

 

[ceefoo]

So you like stats hey! Now lets compare ...

:cesc:Cesc Fabregas

Honours

Arsenal
Winner
FA Cup (1): 2005
FA Community Shield (1): 2004

Barcelona
Winner
Copa del Rey (1): 2011–12
Supercopa de España (1): 2011
UEFA Super Cup (1): 2011
FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2011

National team
Winner
FIFA World Cup (1): 2010
UEFA European Championship (2): 2008, 2012

Individual
FIFA U-17 World Championship Golden Shoe: 2003
FIFA U-17 World Championship Golden Ball: 2003
UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship Golden Player: 2004
Bravo Award: 2006
Golden Boy: 2006
UEFA Team of the Year: 2006, 2008
Premier League Player of the Month: January 2007, September 2007
ESM Team of the Year: 2007–08, 2009–10
PFA Young Player of the Year: 2007–08
PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08, 2009–10
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008, 2012

Andres Iniesta

Honours

Barcelona
La Liga (5): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
Copa del Rey (2): 2008–09, 2011–12; Runner-up 2010–11
Supercopa de España (5): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011; Runner-up 2012
UEFA Champions League (3): 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
UEFA Super Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006

Spain
FIFA World Cup: 2010
UEFA European Football Championship (2): 2008, 2012
UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2002
UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship: 2001

Individual
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (2): 2008, 2012
UEFA Euro 2008 Man Of The Match Semi-final vs. Russia
La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 2009
La Liga's Best Attacking Midfielder (3): 2009, 2011, 2012
Trofeo Alfredo di Stéfano: 2nd best player in La Liga 2008–09, 3rd 2011–12.
FIFA/FIFPro World XI (4): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
UEFA Team of the Year (4): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Ballon d'Or: 4th Place 2009
FIFA Puskás Award: Second place 2009
2010 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
2010 FIFA World Cup Man Of The Match vs. Chile, Paraguay and Final vs Netherlands
Prince of Asturias Awards: 2010
FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2nd place 2010, 4th Place 2011, 3rd Place 2012
ESM Team of the Year: 2011
UEFA Champions League Best Player: 2011–2012
UEFA Euro 2012 Man Of The Match vs. Italy, Croatia, Final vs Italy
UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament: 2012
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2012
IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2012

Xavi

Honours

Barcelona
La Liga (6): 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
Supercopa de España (5): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
UEFA Champions League (3): 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
Copa del Rey (2): 2008–09, 2011–12
UEFA Super Cup (2): 2009, 2011
FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011

Spain
FIFA World Youth Championship: 1999
Summer Olympics Silver medal: 2000
UEFA European Football Championship (2): 2008, 2012
FIFA World Cup: 2010

Individual
FIFA Ballon d'Or Third place (2): 2010, 2011
Ballon d'Or Third place: 2009
FIFA World Player of the Year Third place: 2009
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award Second place: 2011
World Soccer Player of the Year: 2010
UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Year: 2008–09
IFFHS World's Best Playmaker (4): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 1999
La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 2005
La Liga Midfielder of the Year (2): 2009, 2011
Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2nd place 2010, 3rd place 2011
UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament: 2008
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (2): 2008, 2012
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2010
FIFA/FIFPro World XI (5): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
UEFA Team of the Year (5): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
ESM Team of the Year (3): 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12
UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2009
FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball: 2009
FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball: 2011

Apologies for the cut-n-paste job. Had to be done.

 

[Youngie]

What people need to remember is that Cesc, Xavi & Iniesta are all different players with different characteristics. Comparing them is a waste of time and guys should just be glad all are in the same team.

As for ceefoo and his "stats": remember that Xavi (33) and Iniesta (28) were/are on the same team as Messi, Eto'o, Henry, Ronaldinho etc. during peak Barça years. So of course they'll have better achievements. Cesc is just 25 and still has his best days ahead of him.

As for Cesc's game vs Zaragoza. He was poor but how many times did Xavi pass the ball to him? 0 IIRC. Whereas Iniesta passes to him much more. No wonder he was frustrated...

 

[Galning]

It's Xavi's fault!

 

[Youngie]

What I'm saying is last 2 games that Xavi & Fab played together (PSG & Zaragoza) Xavi has barely passed to Cesc - even when they're side by side! Whereas Iniesta has no problem passing to Cesc.

Probably something to do with Iniesta being a more direct player and making the team more direct. Whereas Xavi builds slowly from the back.

 

[Stric]

People seem to be forgetting that (among other things) Fabregas assisted in the World Cup final, in the Euro final, and scored the winning penalty in two Euro semi-finals in a row. Talk about disappearing in big games... He's only been in Barcelona for less than 2 seasons, and hasn't played as many "big games".